s： John is sunk and degraded—his look is frightful—I feel ashamed for him when I see him。”
She was getting much excited。 “I think I had better leave her now；” said I to Bessie； who stood on the other side of the bed。
“Perhaps you had； Miss： but she often talks in this way towards night—in the morning she is calmer。”
I rose。 “Stop！” exclaimed Mrs。 Reed； “there is another thing I wished to say。 He threatens me—he continually threatens me with his own death； or mine： and I dream sometimes that I see him laid out with a great wound in his throat； or with a swollen and blackened face。 I am e to a strange pass： I have heavy troubles。 What is to be done？ How is the money to be had？”
Bessie now endeavoured to persuade her to take a sedative draught： she succeeded with difficulty。 Soon after； Mrs。 Reed grew more posed； and sank into a dozing state。 I then left her。
More than ten days elapsed before I had again any conversation with her。 She continued either delirious or lethargic； and the doctor forbade everything which could painfully excite her。 Meantime； I got on as well as I could with Georgiana and Eliza。 They were very cold； indeed； at first。 Eliza would sit half the day sewing； reading； or writing； and scarcely utter a word either to me or her sister。 Georgiana would chatter nonsense to her canary bird by the hour； and take no notice of me。 But I was determined not to seem at a loss for occupation or amusement： I had brought my drawing materials with me； and they served me for both。
Provided with a case of pencils； and some sheets of paper； I used to take a seat apart from them； near the window； and busy myself in sketching fancy vigtes； representing any scene that happened momentarily to shape itself in the ever…shifting kaleidos